Infielder Nick Leyva is one of only two players to be selected to the First-Team All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference four times [1]. He did so for the La Verne College from 1972 to 1975. Leyva was selected in the 24th round of the 1975 amateur draft by the St. Louis Cardinals and played three seasons in the minors, hitting .267 with 8 home runs in 253 games.

After retiring, Leyva managed in the minors for the Cardinals from 1978 to 1983. Leyva was then a Cardinal coach from 1984 to 1988. In 1989, he became manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. He led the team to sixth and fourth place finishes in his two full seasons at the helm before being replaced by Jim Fregosi very early in the 1991 season.